Flushing-valve.



C; H. PHILLIPS.

FLusHmG VALVE` APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4| ISIE- y 1,209,753. I'utlfntffd Dec. 26, 1916.

I wenz/*5071 fa it;

` so improve thc waterviilied .cnt invention is provided UNITED STATES 'PATEN T OFFICE.

CHARLES H. PHILLIPS, 0F MALDEN,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 PHILLIPS FLUSH- ING TANK COMPANY. 0F PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION 0F MAINE.

FLUSHIN G- VAL VE.

Leona/53.'

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

"0 all whom `'zf may concern: i

lie it known that l, (,nannss H. PHILLIPS, a citizen oi' the United States, residing at Maplewood, Malden, in the county of Mid dlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Flushing-Valves; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable'othcrs skilled in the nrt to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to flushing-valves, such as are used in connection with waterelosets, of the type in which a valve-member is opened as the result of a manual operation, and is then held open automatically, for a predetermined time, by means of a dashpot.

In devices of the kind in question it has been previously proposed to control the flushing valve by a dashpot inclosed within the valvefcasingr and-tilled with water. This arrangement has proved unreliable, by reason of the fact that the small escape-open ing of the dashpot is liable to be choked by particles of solid matter suspended in the water, so that the action of the valve is rendered irregular and uncertain. For the foregoing reason, the most successful flushing-valves have been those in which the action is controlled by an air-check located outside of the vulve-casing.

The use of an air-check as the sole fneans for controlling the vulve is unsatisfactory, for the reason that the elasticity of the air permit z a chattering action of the flushingvalve in the act of closing. Accordingly, it has been found desirable to use a Waterfilled dashpot in addition to the air-check, thus producing a comparatively complicated constructimi in which the uncertainties of operation dus to the dashpot. are more or less eliminated. Y

Unc nlnet-t ol the present invention is to dashpot as to render its oiwvation regular and certain, and thus avoid the necessity of using an airr-heck. To this end the dashpot of the pres-i with simple and effective means whereby clicking of the restricted water-outlet is avoided, this improvemeut comprising. particularly, the use of a. movable valve-member of spherical form for restricting the outlet, this member being located normally inan elongated pasface,

sage and so arranged :is to be always lifted from ,the passage at each operation of the flushing-valve, so that any particles of solid matter which have previously lodged in the restricted outlet may be surely dislodged and carried away by the How of water.

Another feature of construction by which certainty and regularity of operation are insured resides in the means for returning the tlushing-valve proper to its seat. In accordance with the present invention the main valve is subjected to a constant and predetermined force tending to close it, this force being uniform throughout movement of the valve. This is accomplished by using a relief-valve in connection with the main vulve and with a dashpot. a spring being interposed` which tends to produce a relative movement of the valve-members by whih the relief-valve is closed. The effect of this arrangement, as -will be explained hereinafter', is to cause the main valve to be subjected to a closing force which is automatically rendered substantially equivaient to that of the spring` in question, although is produced not by the spring, but by tlyfweight of the valve supplemented by water-pressure against the top 'of the valve.

Other objects of the invention. and the features of construction h v which they are accomplished. will be pointed out hereinai ter, in connection with the description of the illustrated embodiment of the invention.

The accrmlpanying drawing is a yvertical sectional view of a flushing-valve embodying the present invention.

The invention is illustrated `as embodied in a `flusl1in,f-val\'e having a casing 5 of which the upper 'part forms'an inlet-cham! ber. This inlet-chamber may be connected with a source of water-supply by means of a screw-threaded branch 7. Below the inletchamher is an outlet-chamber 8. which communicates, through a passage 9 at the lefthand side of the casing. with an outlet-nipple 10.

Between the inlet-chamber and the outletchamber the annular seat 11 of the main valve is located, and the main valve has the 105 form of a disk 12 provided, on its lower surwith the usual gasket to engage the seat. The main valve is integral with a. cylindrical upward extension. 13, which slides within a tubular guide 14. This guide 11 the range ofv and the valve-seat 1l are formed integral for convenience ot' constructioi'i.y and a heveled ground surface at the lower end of the guide l-l lits against a corresponding surt'ace l5 in a diaphragm which separates the inlet-chamher and the outlet-chamhcr. The guide is held in place hy means ot a scrwcap ll'. which is sealed against the valvecasing and the guide hy a gasket 1T. so that` the cap and the upper part of the guide forni a closed chamher ll, which eonnnnnientes with the inlet-chamber of the valvecasing only in so far as the rather loose fit hetween the parts 1? and il permits leakage of water.

The dashpot. by which the operation of the flushing-value is controlled. comprises a cylinder 19 formed integral with the cas4 ing 5. in which a piston 20 moves. this piston heing packed with the usual cup-leather so that its downward movement is resisted hy the pressure of the contents of the cylinder. This dashpot constitutes. also. a hydraulic motor for opening tac valve. The piston of the motor is of less diameter than the seat l5 against which the guide it rests. Accordingly. upon removing the cap it the entire assemblage of guide. main valve. rclief-valve and piston may be reinovt l troni the casing for the purpose ot' inspection or repair. and-hy the same operation access is atl'orded to the check-valve 30 and the stein 3l. This construction simplifies equally thc assembling of the parts in manufacture or after they have heen separated for the purpose aforesaid. the only packed joint which must he made heilig that ailorded h v the gasket 1T in the cap. The operation ot' the motor is controlled manually. For this purpose a valve '21 is arranged to control an openingr leading from the inlet chaniher t3 to a passage '23, through which water under pressure may flow. when the valve 2l is open. into the cylinder 19. The valve 1 is normally held closed hy the water-picssure and b" a spring Q4. The valve il is opened hy means of a hand-lever 29 counected to the outer end of a rock-.shaft '2T which is journaled in the. wall of the casing 7i. 'ithin the passage 23 au arm 2? is tixed to the rodi-shaft. and this arm engages a stem :213 projecting `inwardly t'ijon'i the valve 21. so that hy Swinging the hand-lever upwardly the valve may he raised from its seat.

Since the hydraulic motor must act also as a dashpot to check the downward movement ofthe main valve 12. it is necessary that the water in the cylinder 19 he allowed to escape slowly through a small. and preferably adjustahle. opening. ()n the other hand. the openingr through which water is introduced to the cylinder. when the motor acts as such to raise the main valve. Should he large enough to permit a rapid action of the motor. so that the piston will fully open the main valv e quickly and without the necessity of retention of the hand-lever 2S for any suhstantial length of time in its raised position. To provide suitahle openings as inst descrihed. and to carry out that. feature ofthe invent ion which resides in provision against clogging ot' the outlet-passage trom the cylinder. .1 valve-niemher 3l) in the torni of a hall is eniployed. This inenioci' cooperates4 with a slightly tapering passage if in a downward extension 'from the hottom ot the cylinder lf. The hall is suported normally upon the upper end ot a stein Iil. and its po-ition and 'its diameter. with relation to the passage Zit. is such that the hall nearly. but. not finite. closes the passage. Accordingly. a very narrow space is alloi'ileil. between the hail and tli-l walls ot' the passage, for the escape ol' water when the piston it) descends. Un the other iand. when the valve 21 is open and the water Hows from the passage into the cylinder. the hall il() is raised troni its seat on the stem :El and into the body ot' the Cylinder. wherehy the full area ot' the passage )51 hecomes ctl'ective toi' thc admission of water to the cylinder.

lt will he apparent that itl any partie-le of solid mattei' becomes lodged in the narrow .space hetween the hall and the walls ot the passage during the dashpot action ol' the motor, this particle will he dislodged upon the next motor-action. owing to the movement ol' the hall trom its seat. and thus permanent choking ot' the outlet passage is pre- \ente|l.

Since it isnecessary to provide an outlet troni the passage 'i3 t'or the escape ot' the water discharged through the passage 2U. the stem 3l is arranged to pass loosely through a nipple 32 projecting downwardly from the passage. The space between the stem and the nipple is ample to permit the escape of the water during the dashpot action ot the motor. while at the same time it is not large enough to prevent the piston vfrom heing raised hy the rapid inflow of water when the valve 21 is opened.

ln order that the rate ot' movement ot' the piston '20. when performing its dashpot action. may be adjusted. the stem 3l is supported. at its lower end. within a sleeve 33 integral with the outlet-nipple l0. and an adjustinfT-screw 3l. with a conical inner end.

is arranged to engage and support the lower cud of the stem. By turning this screw inwardly the ball Z50 may he raised so as to increase the outlet-opening. or the opening may be diminished. and the time of action of the dashpot increased. hy turning the screw outwardly.

Vnder certain conditions of operation air may hecome trapped within the cylinder i9. lt is undesirable to retain any substantial amount of air in the cylinder. as this will provide an elastic cushion which tends to #0, in its closing Inovement,` the main How permit vibratory or'chatteringfaction 'f the par? during the closing movement of the ai. valve., order to permit the ready escape of air'from the cyli ,is provided with an opening 42 so located as to be uncovelged by t e piston at the upper end o1 4itpri l more or ess water, escapes through ythis openin and't has the further advantageous 1o result t 'at it permits the escape of a current o'f water'b which particles of solid matter which mig t otherwise 4become trappedand collected Within the cylinder, may be carried ,awayat each operation of the mechanism.

'Ehe piston 20 is connected with the main valve 12 through astem 35, which-projects upwardl through the relief-opening in the main ,va ve and which has a certain degree of vertical movement relatively to the valve. This stem carries, at its upper end, a reliefv'alve 37 which coperates with seat 38 surrounding the relief-opening. `The stem 35 is provided with guide-.flanges iitting freely Within the opening, and the stem, therefore, does not prevent the flow of water through 'the opening.

Below thema-in valve the stem is provided with lugs 39 which engage the main valve and raise it from its seat, after the short amount of relative movement by which the relief-valve is first raised from its seat, during the rising movement of the piston. A spring 41, interposed -between the main valve and the lugs 39, tends to produce a relative movement of the main valve and the reliefvalve,rby.which the latter is closed. V

lThe main valve-member 12, together with the cylindrical extension 13 and the cylindrica uide 14, constitutes a single-seated 40 balance valveof a welIknown type, the

construction being relief-valve is open, thus equalizing the pressuie between the chamber 40 and the outletchamber 8, the pressure of the water'in the inlet-chamber 6 hasno tendency to prevent an opening movement of the main valve.y

Whenever the relief-valve is closed, however, water under pressure, which'leaks in between the extension f3 andtheCguide 14,- will fill the balance-chamber 40'and assume the same pressure as the Water in the chamber 6, thus holding the main valve firmly a'giinst its seat. 4 v

Vhen the main valve is in raised or open position water flows from the inlet-chamber through four circular openings 18 in the guide 14, and thence through the opening controlled by the main valve and into the n outlet-chamber 8. Ars the main lvalve fallsf,

o the water is first diminished and then'A cut .off by operation of the longer edge of the main valye with thelower curved edges, of the `lpemngs 15,3, so th'at a 'uniform downward) movement of the main valve gives a nder, the cylinder movement. The air, and

such that so long as the` diminishing How of Water. In this manner provision 1s made for a heavy flow which will have a flushing action, followed by a diminished flow for the purpose of supplying water to provide a seal in the trapl of vthe water-closet.

he spring 41 has un important function in connection with the closing movement of the main valve. When the valve is in its normal position as illustrated, and the controlling-valve 21 is o en, the rising movement of the piston 2O rst produces an opening movement of the relief-valve, while' the main valve remains closed. This is diie to the fact that at this time the balance-cham- 80 ber 40 is full of water under pressure, so that the main valve is held firmly to its seat.

As soon as an escape -for this wat'erhas beeni afforded by the opening of the relief-valve,

the pressure on the main valveis' relieved, 85 and the main valve is then raisedffrom its seat either by the engagement with the valve of the lugs 39, or by the'upward pressure of the spring 41 against the main valve. When the piston has risen high enough to uncover the opening 42 and comes torest the sprin 41 continues the upward movement of tge main valve until the relief-opening is closed ,by engagement of thefseat 38 with the relief-valve. If, then, the control; ling-valve 21 be closed, and the water begins to escape from the cylinder 19, thus permitting the piston 20 to fall, the leakage from the inletschamberinto the balanceichamber 40 causes pressure to accumulate upon the 19') upper-surface of the main valve-member 12,

and this pressure', in conjunction Withthe forced gravity, forces ,the valvemember downwardly against the opposing spring 41, thus tending to push the piston 20 downwardly and to close the main valve. As soon, however, as this pressure has accumulated to such an extent as to equal and slightly overcome the force of the spring, the main valve is moved downwardly out of engagement with the 'relief-valve, so that water is permitted te4r escape, through the open relief-valve, from thebalance-cham'ber -to the outlet-chamber. This escape results in reducing the pressure within the balancerhamber. It will be apparent that, as a result of the action just described, the downward pressure ofthe water in the balancechamber is automatically regulated softhat the sum of this ressureand the force of gravity is approximately equal to the force ofthe spring' 41 and the mainY valve is thus moved downwardly toward closed position under a uniform water-pressure, of which the amount maybe determined by a suitable selection of the spring 41.

By the conjoint regulation of the force ltending to close the main valve, a'nd the resistance to such closing Amovement afforded by the adjustable dashpot, the time of opefra'; 130

'and s). check-valve contrrlliug the dashpot tion ct' the main valve may he exactly determined without regard to the pressure ofthe water in the inlet-chamhee(i or to anvl variations in this pressure which may occur.

The invention is not limited to t'he einhodinieut thi root' hereinheforc deseril. -d and illustrated in the accompairving drauings, hut it may he emhodied in various other forms within thc scope ol' the invention as it is defined iu the following clain'is.

The invention claimed isz- 1. A Husliing-valve having. in coinhination, a main valve-member; a dashpot. connected with` said valve-member` t'or -ausing its opening.movement and retardingy its` l closing movement, the dashpot having an opening'l for the intldwand escape of water: a passage connected with said opening.v and also provided with a restricted escape-opening; manually operable means for' admitting Water into the passage at a rate faster than it can escape through said escape-opening, whereby the water is caused to lill the dashpot and open the. main valve-member1 the openingr in and lnovalilc, lrv the inflow ot' water, to a cox'nparativel \v open position. and, by theonttlow of water. but not entirely. closed position.

Q. Atilisliiiig\':1l\'e havin` in eoinhination. a hotly provided with a valve-seat and ith inlet and outlet passages: a main valve cooperating with said seat and arranged to open against the direction of flow: a hivdraulic device connected with .the main valve' and adapted to act as a motor, to move the valve from its seat. and as a dash-pot. to retard` the return of the valve to its seat: and mannelly-controlled means Jfor admitting water to the hydraulic device, from thc inlet, to cause it to act as a motor: the cylinder of the hydraulic device being provided With an escape-opening 'located in position to be uncovered hy the pistoni near the completion of its operative stroke as a motor, said opening connnunieating with the outlet-passage.

3. Ina flushing-valve. a h'vdralilie motor and dashpot. for controllingr the valve proper, provided with a tapering inlet-andontlet passage; a combined'check-valve and regulating-valve inv the form of a hall movable in said passage: a support. l'or the hall. extending vinto engagement therewith when the. hall is in position .to check the outtlow to a more nearly,

through the opening: and manually-operahle means for moving the support to adjust the position rested.

`4,' lushing-vahc having. in combination` a simile-seated'balanced main valve; a relief-valve seated in the main valve; a hydraulic motor and ilashpot connected with the relief-valve and the main valve to open them iu sequence: and a spring tending to move thc relief-valve to rlosed position with respect to the main valve and in opposition to the action ol the motor.

hashing-valve having. in combination, a lnain valve: a dashpot for producing resistance to the closing movement ofthe main valve; and means for subjecting; the main valve to a closing pressure regulated automatically to a predeterinincd amount regardless ot' vaationsl in .the pressure in the water-Supply.

(3. flushing-valve having. in combination. a Single-seated balanced main valve: a dashpotfor producing resistance to the closing movement. of the main valve: and a spring-controlled relief-valve constructed and arranged to relieve automatically any valve-closing;r pressure upon the main valve in excess of a predetermined amount.

7. A flushing-valve havin". in combination, a main valve; a casing provided with an inlet-passage and an outlet-passage; a guide. for the main valve, adapted to eonline water in valve-closing: engagement with the main valve and having restricted aconimunication with the inlet-passage; and means including a spring-controllcd reliefvalve. adjusted to discharge water autolnatirall)v t'roin the valve-guide into the outlet-passage whenever the pressure in the valve-guide exceeds a predetermined amount duringr the closingl` movement of the main valve.

S. A flushing-valve having. in combination. a main valve: means t'o'r confining water in valve-closing pressure against the main valve: a dashpotM for producing resistance to the closingr movement ot' the valve; and means. actuated hv the force ot' said resistance. for relieving said valve-closing pressure whenever. hut not until it rises. during: the closingr movement of the valve.I above a predeteruiined amount..

en viuaes H. retraites.

in which the hall is arroe 

